Lampard Signs - Club Climb-down?
FRANK LAMAPRD
By dixon9
August 13 2008
Chelsea Football Club have just announced that Frank Lampard has signed a new five-year deal to keep him at the club until 2013. This is excellent news given that Lampard has been the best midfielder in the country over the last 4-5 seasons and brings to an end what was once intense speculation from the media over the player’s future.
This probably also represents a significant climb-down over the length of Lamaprds new contract from the Chelsea board who appeared to be stubbornly sticking to a “4 years Frank! Take it or leave it!” position. However, Frank has just been quoted as saying a “compromise” was arrived at so it may be that the club maintain a share of his image rights.
Chelsea revealed that they were to make a “World Exclusive” announcement earlier today and whilst it’s true that the media were in a frenzy at the beginning of the summer over Lampard´s contract and future, it does appear to be over the top to describe the event in this way.
Indeed, some Chelsea fans described the manner in which the club made the announcement as “cringe worthy” and “just like the scousers did when Gerrard renewed”. Certainly, it is fantastic news but “World Exclusive”?!!!
Still, the important thing is that Super Frank will be at the Bridge for some time to come.
Just because he has signed a new deal i still wouldnt be suprised if he left. It might me a smart bit of business by chelsea as if he does decide to leave he would now be worth at least 15-20 million as he is under contract, if he had seen out his contract he would of left on a free next year
Nice 1 lamps
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Had my hopes up that he'd be leaving
THE FIVE-YEAR LAMP BOY IS COMING ON STRONG
Hold on to your planet, readers, because in a few moments the Fiver will publish a story so earth-shatteringly earth-shattering that it will shatter your earth. You can forget ear-worms (and consistent metaphors) because this creature's going to smash its way inside your head and trample all other thoughts to death - fast, merciless, gory death. Death, we tell you! Death! ....
Sorry about that, readers. The Fiver was temporarily contaminated by the same ludicrous hype that engulfed Chelsea's press office yesterday. You will recall that, as the Fiver was stumbling to press in the late afternoon, excitable Stamford Bridge suits summoned media wonks to the club's training ground to hear tell of a "major announcement". Had Kaka been clinched? Robinho recruited? England's Brave John Terry surrounded and barracked by a gang of vengeful referees?
No, no and not yet. Instead, the sensational revelation was that Frank Lampard has completed his contract negotiations in only slightly more time than it took England and France to settle the 100-Year War. After continually rejecting a four-year, £140,000-per-week offer, the 30-year-old somehow wangled a five-year gig that, being worth some £35m, makes the player who won absolutely nothing last season the best-paid performer in the league. "This was never about greed," deadpanned Lampard. "My situation was a personal one and I needed some time to make it right," he continued bravely. "It's unfortunate when people are talking solely about the money. Of course, in negotiations I was thinking about financial security. I have two kids and one day everything will go to them. But my main concern was making the right football decision."
Quite why Chelsea were so eager to trumpet their humiliating capitulation to Lampard is unclear, particularly when you consider that news of the contract extensions signed by Michael Essien and Petr Cech - two players who will certainly be more important to Chelsea over the coming season - was confined to discreet posts on the club's website. Surely an ostentatious announcement wasn't one of the Lampard's contractual demands? Eh? Oh.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.